Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 faces suspension

Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 has been placed under suspension while its finances and viability are evaluated by a transition team, township Solicitor Michael Pierce said Sunday.

"The hope and belief is that this is relatively short-lived and everything will be able to be worked out and that Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 will be back in service in the future," said Pierce.

Fire Chief Charles Wynn, who has headed the volunteer fire company in the southern end of the township for a decade, has a more specific deadline in mind for Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 to be back in service.

"I talked with Commissioner (Richard) Womack and we're actually in the process of getting the company back in service in the next week or two," Wynn said on Sunday night.

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The chief said he received a letter about the approximately 80-year-old fire company's suspension last Thursday.

"We gave (the commissioners) a copy of the records and expected an evaluation and the letter came back as a suspension on Nov. 1," said Wynn.

"There were some concerns from the township commissioners about what was going on there, the viability of the company, the financial position of the company and after some investigation of the situation, the commissioners decided by unanimous vote to suspend operations," said Pierce.

The solicitor noted that he, township Comptroller Paul Struss and a yet-to-be-decided commissioner will be part of a transition team that will be headed by Womack and also include three respresentatives of the fire company, to address the company's problems.

Wynn was not aware of a transition team Sunday evening, but said representatives of the fire company expect to meet with Pierce and a commissioner before Friday to decide the fate of the company.

"We provide a service for the township, but the township does not own us," said Wynn.

The chief noted that the township pays for maintenance, fuel and insurance on the fire trucks, but equipment is paid for with state relief funds, and utilities and other expenses are paid for with proceeds from fire hall rentals and the fire company's social club.

"Right now, the residents, they are angry about it. We're trying to provide the best service for the residents," said Wynn, who noted that Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 is a minority company. Wynn said that Goodwill Fire Co. No. 1 is in the northern end of Darby Township, which is separated from the southern end by several municipalities.

But Pierce noted that fire companies from the surrounding municipalities share in a mutual aid agreement with Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4 and will cover the southern end of the township while the company is under suspension, much as they would if a second blaze broke out while the company was battling another fire.

"There is no impact on the safety of the residents," said Pierce.

Township Commissioner James Sandone said Goodwill Fire Co. went through similar financial difficulties several years ago and township commissioners helped the company get back on its feet as they hope to do with Darby Township Fire Co. No. 4.

"The township wants to help them 100 percent," Sandone said Sunday evening.